Steven Gerrard was sent off as Liverpool were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United at Anfield.

Gerrard, making his final appearance against his fierce rivals, was shown a straight red within 30 seconds of his arrival as a half-time substitute, after stepping on United midfielder Ander Herrera following a challenge.

United had led through Juan Mata’s early strike, and the Spaniard soon extended their advantage against the 10 men with a fabulous second goal. Daniel Sturridge’s smart finish ensured a rousing finish, but the Reds were unable to find the equaliser. Wayne Rooney’s late penalty miss was academic.

Defeat leaves them five points behind United in the race for a top-four finish, while Gerrard faces a three-game ban, which will rule him out of the crucial trip to Arsenal in two weeks’ time.

Despite calls from a number of Reds legends to leave Sturridge out here, Brendan Rodgers kept faith with the England striker, naming a side unchanged from the one which had started at Swansea City last Monday.

It meant Gerrard had to settle for a place on the bench. He was joined by Lucas Leiva, back after a thigh injury, and Mario Balotelli.

United, meanwhile, left record signing Angel Di Maria on the bench, with Mata preferred. Wayne Rooney led the line once more.

It was the visitors who settled the better of the two sides, though, monopolising possession and using the aerial prowess of Marouane Fellaini to good effect.

It took them just 14 minutes to break through, Ander Herrera given time and space to measure a killer pass to Mata, who had run off Alberto Moreno. Mata’s finish, across Simon Mignolet, was clinical.

Liverpool were second best to everything at this point, outmanoeuvred in midfield, nervous at the back and toothless in attack. David De Gea, in the United goal, was a mere spectator for the opening half hour.

Liverpool’s first real moment came on 35 minutes, as Jordan Henderson’s deep cross was laid off by Sturridge for Adam Lallana, who swept a first-time effort wide with De Gea beaten.

Lallana, as he was at Old Trafford, was taken off at half time, with Gerrard introduced.

The plan backfired. Within 30 seconds of the restart, Herrera dived in on Gerrard, who reacted by stepping down on the United man’s leg. Martin Atkinson produced a straight red card, leaving Anfield stunned.

Liverpool, with 10 men, tried to rally, with Coutinho sending a 25-yarder just over, while United sent on Di Maria for Ashley Young.

It had the desired effect. Within four minutes the Argentine’s chipped pass found Mata, who steered a brilliant acrobatic effort across Mignolet and into the far corner of the net.

Liverpool sent on Balotelli in a desperate bid to find a way back in. The Italian was booked with in two minutes.

The Reds did, though, find a route back into the contest soon after, Coutinho carrying the ball forward and feeding Sturridge, who fired through Mignolet at his near post to bring Anfield back to life.

It prompted a frantic finale, though in truth Liverpool were unable to put De Gea under too much pressure.

In stoppage time, Can felled Daley Blind in the box, only for Mignolet to superbly save Rooney’s penalty to his right. For United, though, the job was already done.